Edward Elgar

Edward Elgar was born in 1857 in Broadheath, Worcestershire. His father tuned pianos, and Elgar picked up music mostly on his own, with little formal training. He started out playing in local orchestras and writing for military bands. Things changed in 1899 when he premiered 'The Enigma Variations,' a piece that got people talking and helped establish his name.

In 1901, he wrote 'Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1,' which became known as 'Land of Hope and Glory.' The tune caught on quickly in Britain, turning into a kind of unofficial anthem for national events and later getting adopted for graduations in the U.S. That march is probably what most people know him for today.

Elgar had a complicated relationship with his own success. He struggled with depression and could be difficult to work with, and some critics at the time dismissed his music as too traditional or unoriginal. He kept composing through those tensions, but the recognition never seemed to settle easily with him.